Improvement in electric piles



3 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. CERPAUX.

ELECTRIC-FILES. Nth ISZSOL Pztentefi Oct. 3,1876.

NINE-RS. PHUTQ-LJTHDGRAPMER, WASHlNGTON, D. C.

3 Sheets Sheet 2. J. CERPAUX.

ELECTRIC-FILES. No.18Z,802. "Patanted on. a, 1876.

3 SheetsS'heet 3 J CERPAUX ELECTRIC-FILES.

Patented Oct. 3, 1876.

N. PETERS. FHOT 'rnns JULES GERPAUX, on SAINT JOSSETEN noonn, BELGIUM.

IMPROVEMENT IN ELECTRIC PILES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 182,802, dated October3, 1876 application filed March 8, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JULES CERPAUX, of

the city of Saint J osseten N code, in the Kingdom of Belgium, haveinvented a new and Improved Electric Pile, of which the follow ing is adescription:

My invention consists in the combination of plates of zinc and copper,or other metals having analogous qualities, and provided with a seriesof teeth or blades, said plates and their blades being separated byslats and blocks of wood, or other suitable insulating material, wherebyI produce a very superior electric pile, which, when inserted in moistearth or sand, as hereinafter described, generates an electric currentat but slight cost.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents an electric pile, madeaccording to my invention, and ot' flat form. Fig. 2 represents atransverse vertical section thereof. Fig. 3 is a top view of the same.Fig. 4 represents another form, in vertical section, of a circular platewith radial blades. sectional plan thereof. Fig. 6 represents a sideview of another style of electric pile of annular .forrn and Fig. 7 is atop view of the same.

Similar letters of reference designate corre sponding parts in all thefigures.

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, A and B designate two plates,which are respectively made of copper and zinc, or other metals hearingthe same electrical relations to each other. They consist of flat stripswith teeth or blades ab projecting from the lower edge. These plates areseparated from each other by strips of wood 0, or other insulatingmaterial, and their teeth or blades a b are separated by blocks 0 of thesame material. Wires D, or other electrical conductors, are fastened byscrew-cups e, or other means, to the plates A B, and may be connected atpleasure to produce the electrical circuit. I

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, A B designate two circular plates, fromwhich extend a series of radial teeth or blades, a 11 Like the plates AB they may be made, respectively, of copper and zinc, or other suitablemetals, and they are insulated by blocks of wood or other suitablematerial C. From the plate A extends a tubular shank, E, and from Fig. 5is a.

the plate B a rod, F, extends through, and, preferably, beyond saidshank, it being insulated therefrom in any suitable manner. In this casethe wires or electrical conductors are connected, one with the shank Eand the other with the rod F.

Referring now to Figs. 6 and 7, A B designate annular or ring-shapedplates of copper and zinc, or other suitable materials, and a series ofteeth or blades extending from them. These plates are separated bystrips of wood 0 or other insulating material. Wires or electricalconductors areconnected with the plates A B as to the plates A B.

Although I have only shown these three distinct styles of carrying outmy invention, I do not intend to confine myself to them, but may makeelectric piles of other forms embodying the same principle, namely, theplates and insulated teeth or blades, made of metals of differentelectric properties.

These electric piles are inserted in moist earth or sand, or in agaseous place, and the consequent action upon the metals produces anelectric current. If urine or liquid chloride of sodium, or an analogoussubstance,is poured on the earth or sand where the electric pile isinserted, the action upon the metals will be stimulated, and a veryintense ,electric current be produced, and may be intensified at will.

A very good place to insert these piles is in a urinal, cess-pool, orprivy, or dung-hill, as in such a place a strong current will beconstantly produced, and the necessity for supplying liquid is obviated.

It is obvious that if the pile be inserted in earth contained in areceptable of impervious material, any stimulating liquid poured uponthe same will be confined to the receptacle, and its action on the pilebe of longer duration. Of course other substances or liquids may be usedto stimulate the electric action.

I have mentioned the above because they are inexpensive, and enable meto produce an electric current at little or no cost except that of thepile.

, The two styles of pile that I have repre sented in Figs. 1, 2, and 3,and in Figs. 6 and 7, have only their blades 0. b and a 0 inserted inthe ground, and their plates proper, A B A B remaining above ground, asrepresented in the drawings. The pile represented in Figs. 4 and 5 hasthe plates A 13 and teeth or blades a 11 inserted in the ground, and thetubular shank E and rod F project above ground, as shown in the drawing.4

This pile is very superior to any of which I have knowledge. It embodiesin its construction a smaller amonntof metal, but a far greater extentof effective surface, to produce an electric current of a given strengththan any other electric pile. The pairs of blades or teeth are so farseparated that the moist earth or sand will more effectively come incontact with every part of that portion of the pile which is inserted inthe earth than it could possibly do if the two plates of the pile werecontinuous. Therefore there is a larger effective surface than if thepile were otherwise constructed. This, however, isnot the only advantagedue to this construction of pile, for the plates proper, or shank androd E F, constitute a receiver or accumulator of the electricitygenerated on the teeth or blades.

What I claim as my invention is- The electric pile, consisting of platesof copper and zinc or other metals, bearing similar electric relationsto each other, provided with series of teeth or blades, and insulated bystrips, slats, or blocks of wood, or other suitable material,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification beforetwo subscrib- Witnesses:

FELIX DE KERT, A. HAUSTZ.

